Poultry feather-plucking device



y 1959 c. G. HANCOCK 2,894,279

POULTRY FEATHER-PLUCKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WWW United StatesPatent O 2,894,279 I POULTRY FEATHER-PLUCKING' DEVICE Chastain G. Hancock, Norman, Okla. Application December 27, 1957, Serial No. 705,549

Claims. o1. 17-111 This invention relates to a feather-plucking device for chickens or other fowl, and it particularly relates to an automatic-type machine for effecting the removal of the feathers in a large-scale operation.

There have, heretofore, been many different types of machines produced for this purpose; however, these, prior types of machines were generally complex and costly in some cases or not particularly effective in other cases. Consequently, it is one object of the present invention to provide a feather-plucking device which is simple and easy to use but which is nevertheless highly effective.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a featherplucking device which consists of relatively few working parts and which is easy to maintain in good repair.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved plucking device, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly efficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a device embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a plucking machine, generally designated which comprises a vertically-arranged cylinder 12 having an open upper end 13 defined by a rim 14 and an open lower end 15 telescopically positioned within the open upper end 17 of a duct 16. The upper end 17 of the duct 16 is provided with a collar 18 on which is seated a roller bearing 20 having rollers 22 which bear against a flange 24 on the periphery of the cylinder '12. The duct 16 is telescopically received within an elbow 25 extending through an opening in the floor 26, and this. elhow 25 is, in turn, connected to a suction pipe 28 which is in communication with -a suction fan, not shown.

Mounted on the floor 26 are a pair of posts 30, one on each side of the duct 16; these posts 30 being supported in sockets 32 fixed to the floor by bolts, rivets, or the like, shown at 34. These posts 30 support between them upper and lower arms 36 and 37. The upper arms support, between them, an annular collar 38 and the lower arms 37 support a similar collar 40. Since both collars 38 and 40 and their associated structure are the same, a description of collar 40 will serve as a description of collar 38 as well.

Collar 40 comprises a vertical outer web 42 and a radially-inward extending horizontal web 44 (as best shown in Fig. 5). The web 42 is connected to the arms 37 while the web 44 supports an annularly-spaced series of rollers 46 mounted on individual pins 48 extending up from the web 44. These rollers 46 bear against a web 48 of an annular collar 50 encircling and. attachedto the outer peripheral surface of cylinder 12. The web 48 is integral with horizontal web 52 of collar 50 which overlies the upper end of web 42 of collar 40 in spaced relation thereto (as best shown in Fig. 5). In this manner, the rollers 45 rotatably guide the upper portion of cylinder 12 against lateral displacement without restricting its rotation during operation by the belt 64 between pulleys 62. and 66, while its lower portion is rotatably supported by rollers 22.

The post 30 on the right hand side, as viewed in the drawings, also supports a motor mounting panel 54 by means of collars 56 and bolts 58 (see Fig. 1). On this panel 54 is provided a motor 60 having a drive pulley 62 mounted on its shaft 65. This pulley 62 is connected by a drive belt 64 to an annular collar 66encircling cylinder 12. The collar 66 is grooved to receive the V-belt 64 in driving relation and since the collar 66 is connected to cylinder 12, actuation of motor 60 will act, through drive belt 64, to rotate the cylinder 12 within its various roller bearings described above. The panel 54 alsosupports a motor control means 68 of the ordinary type.

An annular cover plate 70 overlies the upper collar 38 and is provided with opposite arms 72 which overlie the arms 36 supporting the upper collar 38. Extending up from the right hand arm 72 (as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2) is a post 74 having a bracket 76 at its upper end. In this bracket 76 is pivoted, as at 78, a lever arm 80 having a handle portion 82. At the end opposite the handle 82, the lever 80 is pivotally connected, as at 84, to a vertical arm 86 having a securing means 88 at its lower end for holding a fowl such as shown at 90.

Within the cylinder 12 are provided a series of flexible fins 92, made of rubber or the like, which extend radially inward from the interior wall surface of cylinder 12. These fins 92 are arranged in a spiral formation from top to bottom of the cylinder (as best. shown in Fig. 1). The spirally-arranged fins 92 define a vertical center opening 94 (best seen in Figs. 2 and 3) into which the fowl is lowered.

At vertically-spaced intervals, within the cylinder 12, is supported a spiral rod 96 by arms 98 which radially extend to the inner surface of the cylinder 12. The spiral support rod 96 is positioned beneath each fin 92 and acts as a rib or support to keep the suction of the duct 16 from pulling the fins 92 down and thereby losing their plucking action (to be hereinafter described).

In operation, the fowl is first dipped into scalding water and is then lowered into the opening 94- in the cylinder 12 by means of the pivotal action of lever 80. The motor 60 is then set into motion and this causes the cylinder 12 to turn at a high rate of speed. At the same time the suction fan (not shown) is started to set up a suction in duct 16.

As the cylinder 12 rotates, the flexible fins 92 strike downwardly thereby exerting a pulling action on the feathers of the fowl. As the feathers are pulled off, they are immediately sucked down through the duct 16 and out to a disposal unit (not shown). No feathers remain to stuff up the machine and prevent its effective operation. There are, furthermore, no additional moving belts, discs, pulleys or the like. The rotation of the cylinder '12 itself effects the required downward pulling action of the fins 92 which result in the defeathering process.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention what is claimed is:

1. A poultry tie-feathering device comprising a rotatable cylinder, a series of flexible feather plucking fins cally and rotatably positioned in said open upper duct extending radially inward from the inner side wall sur- 5 face ofsaid cylinder and arrangedin an axially-extending spiralforrnationdefininga centrally-positioned axial path through said cylinder whereby said axial path is defined by the freeends of said fins, means for supporting and :movinga fowlto be de-feathered through said axial path, and a spiral fin supporting rod positioned in said cylinderbeneath said fins, said spiral rodencircling said axial path.

t, 2; A poultr'y-de-feathering device comprising a rotatablecylinder, a series of flexible feather plucking fins extending radially inward from the inner side wall surface of =sa id-cylinder and arranged in an axiallyextendings-spiral formation defining a centrally-positioned axial path through said cylinder whereby said axial path is deend, external bearing means rotatably supporting said cylinder, supporting posts mounted on said base and laterally and rotatably supporting said cylinder bearing means, motor-drive means operatively connected to said cylinder to rotate said cylinder relative to said exhaust duct, and inwardly extending, flexible feather plucking fins supported within said cylinder defining an axial path within said cylinder.

4. The device of claim 3, and spiral means supporting said fins in a spiral series extending axially of said cylinder.

5. The device of claim 3, a lever having a handle at one end and a pivoted arm at the opposite end thereof,

fined by'the free ends of said fins, means for supporting 20 and moving a fowl to be de-feathered through said axial path, and anexhaust duct connected to one end of said cylindertocreate a feather withdrawing suction through said axial path.

3; A poultry de-tfeathen'ng device comprising a base, an ..exhaustduct mounted in said base and connected to a suction-producing means, said exhaust duct having an open. upper end, a cylinder open at both ends-te1esc0pisaid lever being pivotally supported on one of said posts said pivoted arm extending vertically toward said axial path within said cylinder and having securing means thereon for securing a fowl thereon.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

